Flower names have seen a surge in popularity in recent years. It's easy to see why. When we hear the name Jasmine or Rose, we instantly think of the beautiful flower they're associated with. Below we take a look at some of the flower names of the moment, as well as more unusual choices.

What were the top flower names of 2011?

Not only is Lily the most popular flower name, it's also the number one name choice for girls in 2011. Lily is elegant and feminine, and is a symbol of innocence. Because it's short, it also goes well with many different middle names.
Also moving up the chart this year were Holly, Jasmine, and Rose. These floral favourites are pretty, without sounding old-fashioned or twee.

A new entry in the top 100 this year was Alyssa, derived from the flower name Alyssum. With several ways to spell it, Alyssa evokes all the sweetness and beauty of the purple Alyssum flower, while still sounding cool and fresh.

Is taking inspiration from flowers a new thing?

Far from it, but flower names have been on a popularity loop that's taken about 100 years to come round again. Delicate, floral names were often picked by parents in the early 20th century.

UK government data on baby names shows that in 1914, Ivy was the 17th most popular girl's name. Violet was at 20, and Lily was at 25. Other flower names in the top 100 included Rose, Daisy and Iris.

Over the next few decades, the popularity of flower names declined dramatically. Since the 1990s, however, they've been climbing back up the charts.

This may have something to do with the natural cycle of name popularity. Names that were popular with grandparents and great-grandparents may have fallen out of favour with our parents' generation, but now they sound fresh and new all over again.

Looking for something more unusual?

While the top 100 girls' names are dominated by a few favourites, there are hundreds of other flowers that might provide inspiration for your little one's name.

How about Bluebell, Marigold or Primrose? Or why not try Fleur, Magnolia or Peony? These names have the benefit of being a little more unusual, yet are still just as pretty and feminine as favourites like Lily and Daisy.

You could even go for something that isn't obviously floral, but has a flower-related meaning. How about Calantha, meaning beautiful flower in ancient Greek? Or Dianthe, meaning flower of the Gods?

How about a name with a myth or legend attached?

Behind every beautiful flower there's often a legend. You could choose a name associated with a myth from ancient Greece. Not only will your daughter have a beautiful flower-inspired name, but she'll have a story to tell too!

Iris
In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow. She carried messages between heaven and earth for the Olympian gods. Iris also replenished the rainclouds with water from the sea.

Ivy
According to Greek mythology, after the god Dionysos was born his jealous stepmother Hera sought to destroy him. So his nurses screened his cot with ivy leaves to keep him safely hidden.

IantheIanthe was a young girl who was so beautiful that when she died, the gods made purple flowers grow around her grave.

What about flowers that are symbolic?

One of the reasons we love flower names is that they're so evocative. The Victorians in particular loved to use the language of flowers to help express their thoughts and feelings. One of the following, with their symbolic meaning, may inspire to make your final choice:

While the same flower can symbolise various virtues, you're guaranteed to find one that represents the qualities you'd most like to see in your daughter!

Which celebrities have seen the power of flowers?

The baby names chosen by our favourite celebrities also have a major influence on the top 100 list. Jude Law and Sadie Frost's decision to name their daughter Iris may have contributed to its steady rise up the baby name chart.

Violet's popularity may have something to do with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Gardner choosing it for their second daughter.

Daisy and Poppy both slipped down the chart this year. Perhaps this reflects their over-exposure after Jamie and Jools Oliver chose them for their daughters back in the early noughties.

Some celebrities have sought to avoid traditional flower names and instead put their own twist on the current trends.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes named their daughter Suri, meaning Rose in Persian. And Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie chose to name their daughter Zahara, Hebrew for flower.

What about middle names?

Flowers have also had a strong influence on middle name choices. Rose was the most popular girl's middle name in 2011. Rose is often seen as the perfect bridge between a girl's first and last name, with its single syllable and soft sound.

Rose is also a favourite with celebrities. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban called their daughter Sunday Rose. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner chose to name their second daughter Seraphina Rose. And Kristin Davis of Sex and the City fame called her daughter Gemma Rose.

As a first name, Rose was up 13 places to number 67 in 2011. This might suggest that parents looking for a fresh approach are choosing Rose as a first name instead.

But it seems that flower names continue to be a popular choice for middle names, with Lily, Violet, Daisy and Jasmine also featuring in the top 100 middle names this year.

What trends might we see in 2012?

The current revival of traditional names is sure to see the flower favourites of the Victorian era continue to have a strong presence in the baby name chart. Iris was a new entry in 2011, and could well climb even higher next year.

The huge popularity of TV series Downton Abbey is also adding to interest in traditional girl's names. With Daisy and Violet both main characters in the series, we could see an increase in popularity of both these names in 2012.

Flower names could get a further boost if they're chosen by any celebrity mums-to-be next year. Could Billie Piper or Amanda Holden see the power of flowers? Or maybe Beyonce or Jessica Simpson will look to flowers for inspiration? Only time will tell!

Last reviewed: November 2011

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